
Class j::psiL5iil3 
Book X^^J^ 



Copyright N°_. 



4- 



COPYRIGHT deposit: 




CHRIST 

Detail from ''Christ and the rich young Ruler y' by Hofman 



THE MASTER 

A Rosary of Christian Verse 

BY 

CARROLL LUND BATES 



With Tiuenty Illustration: 



BOSTON 

RICHARD G. BADGER 

1907 



Copyright 1906 by Carr(Jll Lund Bates 



All Rights Reserved 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 
FEB 19 190/ 

^ Copyright Entry 

CLASS A XXC, No. 

copy's. 



Z'^- 



M^ 



The Gorhatn Press, Boston 



CONTENTS 

The Annunciation . . . • 1 1 

The Nativity — Christmas . . 13 

The Magi— Epiphany {One) . . 1 7 

The Boy in the Temple— Epiphany 

{Two) .... 21 

The First Miracle— Epiphany (Three) 23 
The Stilling of the Tempest— Ephi- 

phany {Four) ... 29 
Ash Wednesday — A Meditation . 32 
The Temptation — Lent ... 33 
The Triumphal Entry — Palm Sun- 
day . . ' • • 37 
The Last Supper— Maundy Thursday 41 
Good Friday . . • • 43 
The Resurrection — Easter . • 49 
Appearance of Christ after the Resurrection 

The Great Forty Days . . 51 
The Ascension • • • 57 
The Descent of the Holy Spirit— Whit- 
sunday . . • • 59 



'ILLUSTRATIONS 



Portrait of Christ by Hofman Frontispiece 

Nazareth .... p^g^ 10 

The Annunciation by MuriUo . . 12 

The Nativity by Schouherr . . 14 
The Adoration of the Kings by Pfatin- 

schmidt .... 16 
The First Vieiu of "Jerusalem by 

Nungelberg . . . . 1 9 

Christ and the Doctors by Hofman . 20 

Cana ...... 24 

Marriage at Cana . * . . 26 

Christ Stilling the Tempest by Dore . 28 
Christ Tempted by Satan by Cor- 

necelius .... 34 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



The Entry into 'Jerusalem by Dore 

The Last Supper hy Zimmermann 

Golgotha hy Gerome 

The Crucifixion by Rubens 

Easter Dawn by Thompson 

On the Way to Emmaus by Plack 

hurst 
Supper at Emmaus by Raima Vecchio 
The Ascension by Hofm ann 
Descent of the Holy Spirit 



36 

40 

44 
46 
48 

52 

54 
56 
60 



" Lord,^^ said my Soul one quiet morris 

*' Men think the age-old creeds out-worn. 

Faith IS asleep', and sad hearts yearn 

For what their blindness makes them spurn." 

fVritel" said my Lord, — 
^* Of what?" I cried. 

Write how The Master lived and died." 



10 



The Master 




A Rosary of Christian Verse II 

The Annunciation 

Nazareth's streets lie quiet and brown, 
As morning dawns and the sun looks out. 
Nazareth wakes; while the day lets down 
Curtains of light on its hills about. 

For the village today is the Bride of God. 
(Veiled be thy hills in a silver light!) 
As Mary, kneeling, receives the word 
That ransoms our race from its death and 
night. 

'^ Ave!" 'Tis said, and the entail of sin 

Is broken. God severs the sin-soiled thread. 

A new strand commences; and man may 

begin 
A God-renewed sonship in Christ his new 

Head. 



^*Ave!" O Saviour, say the word, 
For Thy Church is kneeling in this new day; 
'' Keep me" she prayeth, "the Bride of God, 
Scatter these clouds of doubt away. " 



12 



The Master 



The streets of our city lie bare and brown- 
Bare and brown with the fires of sin — 
Ave! Lord, send an angel down; 
Let Thy Holy Ghost bring the new age in 




THE ANNUNCIATION 
By Murtllo 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 13 

The Nativity 
Christmas 

Low burned the lights in a village inn, 
Master and servant had gone to rest; 
Quiet which hovers when new days begin 
Folded thee, Bethlehem, close to its breast. 

Cattle all sheltered in yonder rude shed, 
Beast nor man felt never a care; 
One only needed. The Christ Child's head 
Pillowed itself in a manger bare. 

Pardon, O Jesus, our sinful race. 
That they gave to Thee such scanty cheer. 
Filled were Thy hands with largess of grace. 
Men drove Thee out to a stable drear. 

We have driven Thee forth, O Jesus blest. 
Many a time from our own heart's gate; 
Out in the storm with no place to rest; 
Driven Thee out though the hour was late. 

'Tis our sins, O Christ Child, 'tis our sin! 
That has turned Thee away from our heart's 
gate; 



14 The Master 




THE N ATI FIT r 

By C. Schonherr 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 15 

They have crowded the rooms of our own 

heart's inn. 
They, and not we, have made I hee wait. 

Out of our hearts on this Christmas-tide 
We will drive our sin with a ^^hip of cord. 
Enter, Christ Child! the door stand wide! 
Here make Thy Bethlehem, Jesus, Lord. 



1 6 The Master 




ADORATION OF THE KINGS 
By C. C. Pjaunschmidt 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 17 

The Magi 

Epiphany {One) 

Into a city, far away, 
Three strangers ride in solemn quest, 
'' Where is the king that is born ?" they say, 
' * We have seen his star in the distant east. " 

'' A king ?" said the City, " No king is here; 

Herod, the robber, is on the throne. 

The shadows are dark, and the times are 

drear; 
Messiah tarries. The night is lone." 

Yet, even then, not far away, 

Mary sang over her Child a song. 

The King had come to begin His sway. 

The strangers were right, and the City, wrong. 



Into our city they come today. 

From distant lands and beyond the sea — - 

' * Where is the King } We have heard men 

say 
That a star hangs over this country free. '' 



1 8 The Master 



"' A King!" we answer, '' O stranger guest 
You mock our woe by what you have said. 
Mammon fattens. Greed is blessed. 
Virtue has perished. Our Christ is dead." 

Yet, even now, in the heart of our youth, 

Mary sings over the Christ her song, 

And our new Christ shall rise and restore 

His truth. 
The strangers are right and the cynics wrong. 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 



19 




20 



The Master 




S ^ 
O ^ 






A Rosary of Christian Verse 



The Boy Christ in the Tempi 
Epiphany {Ti 



wo 



Awake! ye Hebrews, wake! 

The doves sing low in the ohve trees, 

There's the smell of dawn in the stirring 

breeze, 
Awake! ye Hebrews, wake! 

Come! Nazareth townsmen, come! 
The season is here when Passover waits; 
Queen city Salem opens her gates. 
Come! fellow-townsmen, come! 

Yes! son of the carpenter, yes! 
Twelve is the age when by Moses' decree, 
A ''son of the law" you too may be, 
Yes! son of Mary, yes! 

Hail! holy city, hail! 
How fair is the city of God most High, 
Thy courts, O Sion, dehght mine eye; 
Hail! holy city, hail! 

Lost! fellow-townsmen, lost! 
Returning, this night-fall has brought great 
care, 



22 The Master 



Boy Jesus has tarried, we know not where: 
Lost, fellow-townsmen, lost! 

Why ? mother Mary, why ? 

Did ye not know that I must be. 

In my Father's House, as now ye see ? 

Why ? mother Mary, why ? 



Jesus, beloved, yes! 

The Church bells ring, and the doctors 

preach, 
And still it is Thou whothe teachers teach; 
Jesus, beloved, yes! 

Jesus, my Saviour, how ? 
Thy teachers may diverse doctrines tell, 
Yet all tell truth, if they love Thee well; 
Jesus, my Saviour, how ? 

Jesus, the blessed, here! 

Thou art still in Thy Church, and strife of 

minds 
Shall cease as our heart one Saviour finds, 
Jesus, the blessed, here. 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 23 

The First Miracle 

Epiphany {Three) 

Just on the slope of a hill-side green, 
A village with houses low and white, 
Lay sunning itself in a glamour of light, 
As a day dawned long ago; 
A maiden in one of the houses awoke, 
Opened her window and tenderly spoke: 
''Welcome! beautiful day of mine — 
For today from my home I go; 

Go — but come to my home as well. 

For with him I love I wed today. '' 

— And anon the guests gather in goodly 

array. 
And all is happy and glad; 
Mary comes from Nazareth town, 
And Jesus, her Son — and the guests sit down, 
And the wedding feast is had. 

''The wine has failed!" — There is heard 

the cry; — 
'Twas just as when the day has been bright, 
And a cloud in the sky obscures the lieht, 
The beautiful light of the sun. 



24 



The Master 




A Rosary of Christian Verse 25 

" The wine has failed!" 'Tis the end of joy, 
And of innocent smiles — with no alloy 
Of anything wrongly done. 

' ' They have no wine, " said Mary then — 
''Nay! but my summons comes not from 

men," 
Tenderly pleads our Lord. 
To the servants does blessed Mary say, 
" Do as he bids, for I feel that today 
He will hear His Father's word." 

" Fill ye the water jars!" Jesus cries. 
For God had called Him to then arise. 
And His public work to begin; 
" Draw off and bear," and wine's fair hue 
Glinted and gleamed, as the servants drew, 
And the vessels filled to the brim. 



Jesus, often as the hours go by, 

Tired and worn to Thee we cry — 

There seems no joy. Life's stream runs slow. 

Then to our Lord right oft we go, 

" The wine has failed, dear Lord," we say, 

" Take this poor boon of breath away!" 



26 



The Master 




A Rosary of Christian Verse 27 



Youth goes, — ''The wine has failed," we 

claim; 
Wealth goes — our plaint is still the same; 
Loved ones fare on through Heaven's door — • 
Sadly we moan, as we had before, 
''Ah! it has failed, — the wine." 

" Son," speaketh Christ, "do not complain. 

Seek not thy Father to rudely constrain; 

Draw off and bear what remains of life. 

Asking of me to bless." 

When we obey, lo! the glint and glow, 

Of bane changed to blessing, of profit in woe! 

And time brings character; trouble, strength; 
Sorrow brings hope, and Faith at length. 
Dawning within life's secret place. 
Changes the heart and changes the face. 
And we know that it has not failed, the wine. 
But, by the process of life, divine. 
The water of living, through toil and strife, 
Jesus has changed to the wine of life. 



28 



The Master 




CHRIST STILLING THE TEMPEST 
By Don' 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 29 

The Stilling of the Tempest 

Epiphany {Four) 

Evening! and Galilee quiet lies; 

Come men, and the boat prepare! 

Jostle of throng — hurry and noise — cry of the 

people — 
Have worn Me, the Master, 
The lake has rest on its waters — Carry Me 

there! 

Weary ? yes, He has taught since morning. 

Someone a pillow !There in the hinder part 
of the boat let Him lie. 

Bend to the oar! Keep stroke together! 
Fisher-men's muscle 

Shall do what it can for Him. 

Sleeping .^ Thank God ! — Still now as breath- 
ing, our oars we'll ply, 

How dark it is now! — and just past the sun- 
set! 

A storm, men! Row for the nearest shore. 

Swish of the waves! Clamor of wind! 
Clangor of thunder! 

Master! Save us! Carest Thou not that 
we perish .^ 

Our hope giveth o'er! 



30 The Master 



Children! Why are ye faithless? 

Am I not here ? And this world is your 

Father's, all — 
Sunshine and cloud — ocean and land — quiet 

and tempest — 
He has these in His care, 
Rest trustfully on Him. He heareth your 

call. 

*' Peace, be ye still!" But if these fear the 

tempest. 
Let the storm end. 
Calmer it grows! The wind is a breeze. 

The sun shineth out — ■ 
The fishermen quiet, sit in their places. 
Ap:ain the oars bend. 



Jesus! Life is not all of it calm. 

As we proceed on life's journey, oft cometh 

storm. 
Wrenching of faith! Breaking of heart! 

Torture of worry! 
Carest Thou not that we perish '^. Why is 

God sleeping } 
Waken, and spare us this harm. 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 31 

Children ! Always your Father is with you. 

Even in the tempest is hidden His love. 

Welding of Faith ! Forging of Hope ! Grow- 
ing of Charity — 

These in the tempest thy Father's bene- 
ficence prove. 

But — is the tempest too heavy .? 

Do its clamor and straining weary your dear 

human heart ? 
Come unto me! Wake me by prayer! Hold 

to me closely! 
Peace! — I will quiet thy tempest — 
All of thy fears shall depart. 



32 The Master 



Ash Wednesday 

A Meditation 

Jesus, whene'er my past I view, 

And all my guilty sins spell o'er. 

Grief loads my heart; death seems my due; 

I stand ashamed outside Thy door. 

But when I think of Thy dear love, 
That brought Thee here for my poor sake. 
To this low earth from Heaven above; 
Ah, then my dearest Lord, I wake. 

Saidst Thou upon the cross '' I thirst ?" 
And didst Thou mean " I thirst for thee V 
Straight then, upon that word, I burst 
All that divides us. Take Thou me. 

For, Jesus, I am thirsty, too; 
For lack of Thee my strength is spent; 
Not with vain tears my past I'll view; 
New consecration bless my Lent! 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 33 

The Temptation 

Lent 

Out from His world my Saviour went, 
Out from the clamor of throng and street; 
Out from the home whose shelter meant 
Nazareth happiness, mother-love sweet. 

Out from the task and out from the plan; 
Out from pleasure, and out from ease; 
Out from the common haunts of man 
Till the Desert, astonished, her Master sees. 

" I have no bread," the Desert cried, 

"You will hunger, Lord, I have only 

stone." 
"Nay, yield Me your Bread;" my Lord 

replied, 
"The world is hungry. Men perish alone." 

Back to His world my Saviour went, 
Back to the city, and back to the throng; 
Back to where multitudes, hunger-spent. 
Feeding on husks, had been starving long. 




CHRIST TEMPTED BT SATAN 
By Corneceltus 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 35 

Into their hands my Lord put food, 
Bread of peace, and of sweet commands; 
Bread of faith in a Father good; 
He had found God's Bread in the desert 
sands. 



Out from our world we will go, dear Lord, 
Out from our work, from ease, and hoard; 
To ask the Desert to give us food, 
For we starve, in this world for the Bread of 
God. 

'' I have no Bread," does the Desert say ? 

(Nay; fasting nor vigil yield not content.) 

But Christ waits out from the world's high- 
way. 

He will break us Bread. He will bless our 
Lent. 



36 



The Master 




Co 

SI 

o T- 



ft:; 



A Rosary of Christian Verse l^J 



The Triumphal Entry 

Palm Sunday 

The street stands crowded from wall to wall. 
Yon Hebrew boy, come here, I pray. 
And tell me what has sufficed to call 
Such a multitude abroad today. 

'' Friend, do you see upon yonder hill 
Where the road winds around old Olive's 

brow?" 
" Lad, I see only the sunshine still, 
And some ragged trees and the dust below; 

While along the poor path some weary men, 
With one in their midst as poor as they; 
He is much bespent, for I see again 
That he rides on an ass; and they draw this 
way." 

" Stranger, many a month before, 
I stood on the coast of Gennesaret's sea; 
In a basket of wicker some loaves I bore 
That a mother, at home, had prepared for 
me. 



38 The Master 



'* Stranger, just at the set of the sun, 
He that was teaching called me near; 
'*Will you give me your loaves, lad?" — 

** Every one!" 
I answered, and gave them with never a fear. 

*' Stranger, five thousand men and more 
Had heard what the Teacher had to say; 
And these were hungry. He blessed my store, 
And He fed them all, and He sent them away. 

'* Stranger, He that rides down toward the 

gate 
Is that Teacher — All hail! — Let me go I say! 
I must join them at once. I would not be late. 
You must keep me no'longer. I cannot stay." 

" Hosanna!"irdown- from the hill they cry, 
" Hosanna!" comes back from the town 

below. 
As they pay meet homage and honor high, 
And for Christ's dear feet their green palms 

St row. 

O Saviour, all-blessed, as Thy dear f^eet 
Come down the hill which Thy good Cross 
crowns. 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 39 

As into our Salem Thy presence sweet 
Draws near, and our trouble and sorrow 
drowns. 

Help us to give Thee the tribute we owe, 

Confession meet — Consecration true. 

And thus in Thy pathway, dear Lord, to 

strow 
The palms that Thou lovest. Thy tribute due 



40 



The Master 




A Rosary of Christian Verse 41 



The Last Supper 
Maundy Thursday 

When Israel through the desert went, 
They traveled many days. 
Worn were they then, and much bespent. 
It was a weary ways. 

The host arose on one blest morn 

And, all the camp around, 

Lay morsels numberless along 

Like hoar frost, on the ground. 

" Manna ?*— what is it .?"— Israel said. 

'Twas Heaven's gift — Jehovah's bread. 

When Jesus' days on earth were gone. 

His chosen apostles gathered near. 

The night seemed dark. The way seemed 

long. 
Heart-hungry were they; racked with fear. 

Through centuries, men had longed for God; 
Thro' Jesus these twelve on God had fed. 

^ Manna is here taken to he a contraction of the Hebrew 
^^ man hii," signifying "what is it?" 



42 The Master 



They pressed around to keep their Lord. 
They knew Him well — their heart's true 
Bread. 

'* Take ye and eat," in love He cried, 
" Drink ye this Cup, my children blest. 
Heart-hunger shall not be denied. 
My presence shall always with you rest." 



When on life's path the Christian fares. 
Sometimes the way seems lone and drear: 
He wonders if the good God cares. 
He sinks and faints midst many a fear — 

Then, if the Christian heeds and calls. 
Bending in the quiet Church his knee, 
Silent around, the blessing falls; 
Tearfulness ends; his heart is free. 
** Manna .?- what is it V — does knowledge 
cry .? 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 43 



Good Friday 

Sleep on Judea's city lies, 
Shadows hang over her valley and hill; 
With the coming of morning the people arise, 
And the marts and the streets for a new day 
fill. 

But the heart of the race was passing sad, 
And this bright new day brought the heart no 

light; 
Though 'twas outwardly morning and voices 

seemed glad, 
Man doubted his God, and within it was 

night. 

Hail! On a hill near the city appears 
A Cross! and One gives His life thereon; 
It scatters the shadows, it terminates fears. 
It rises resplendent,— the heart's true sun! 

Out from his own the shepherd went. 

One sheep had strayed from the ninety and 



nme, 



Wayworn and weary and all bespent. 

He returned with the lost in his arms benign. 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 45 

The prodigal, sick of the world and its 

charms, 
Cried, "Father, in exile my true home I 

miss." 
The father fared forth, took his child in his 

arms, 
And sealed the home-coming with passionate 

kiss. 

So, when our one little world had strayed, 
Far on the path of shame and, sin. 
Search for the lost the Shepherd made. 
And, travel-bespent. He brought man in. 

And so, when our earth, all hungry and sad, 
Complained, '* There's no joy in an exile 

like this," 
Forth-faring from Heaven my Lord made 

glad 
The earth — blood-ransomed — with God's 

own kiss. 

Sleep yet lies over us. Shadows drear 
Still hang dark on this poor earth's skies; 
Banish our darkness, Saviour dear, 
Qver earth's night let Thy Cross arise. 



46 



The Master 




THE CRUCIFIXION 
By Reubens 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 47 

Hail, holy day! and year, by year. 

Draw o'er our era the holy sign; 

Print on man's forehead God's kiss most dear. 

Home bring the world in thine armsbenign. 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 49 



The Resurrection 

Easter 

Hosanna! Jesus slays our foe! 
His strong right arm the victory brings. 
Hosanna! Let all men below 
Extol Him. He is King of kings. 

Hosanna! The first Adam's sin 
Bred hateful death, made joy to cease. 
Unfold, ye gates of life! Let in 
The Conqueror! Jesus brings us peace! 

Hosanna! Though for three sad days 
*Twas dark, while Jesus seemed to sleep; 
Upon the third, Love's conquering rays 
Banished the dark; men ceased to weep. 

Hosanna! Even now, dear Lord, 
'Tis often dark. I sometimes fear. 
What matter! I can wait Thy word 
To end the darkness. Thou art near. 

If, sometimes in life's shadowy room, 
Hope dies, and Jesus seems to sleep, 
V\\ bravely keep beside Thy tomb 
My three days' watch; I will not weep. 



50 The Master 



Three days! I will with patience bide. 
I'll watch and trust with quiet heart, 
I know that soon my Easter-tide 
Will come; and all my fears depart. 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 51 

Appearances of Christ After the Resurrection 
The Great Forty Days 

The Church begins her march again 
Along those forty festal days 
Which follow Easter's happy reign, 
And swell the Risen Redeemer's praise. 

Like lights along a road at night 
These two score days are lamps alight 
With Easter's hope. And many a glow 
Upon the path of life they throw. 

Two walked, discouraged, to their home. 
Near to them now see Jesus come. 
The three fare on. He blesses bread; 
They know Him, though no word is said. 

Into the town, with zealous speed 

They run to bring the eleven word — 

** We've seen Him!" — '^ He is risen indeed," 

These answer, ** Simon hath seen the Lord." 

But Thomas was not with them then; 
An eight days pass, Christ comes again; 
In fellowship with faithful hearts 
Thomas believes; his doubt departs. 



52 



The D^ aster 




ON THE fVAT TO EMMAUS 
By Plackhurst 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 53 



Dim dawn — and Galilee's watery sheen. 
All night these seven have fishing been; 
One speaks from the not distant shore — 
'Tis jesus' voice! They are sad no more. 



We walk Emmaus-ward when we sigh, 
And let these precious days go by 
The prey of grief.— Wouldst happy be ? 
Take the Christ home thy Guest to be. 

And if, perchance, in some still place, 
Where Bread is blessed, and Wine out- 
poured, 
Thou'st seen, at last, thy Saviour's face, 
Haste! Tell some others of thy Lord. 

We all have Thomas' sickness felt 

Where Faith's pulse fails, and dark doubti 

pain — 
Then find where Christians meet, and melt 
In prayer thy doubt — believe again. 

We toil all night like those sad seven 
Who caught no fish, when hard we try 
To live and work our way to Heaven 
With no real Faith in our heart's sky. 



54 



The Master 




A Rosary of Christian Verse cc 



Awake! The dawn bids dreaming cease. 
Wouldst really fill life's empty net ? 
Heed Jesus' word. His counsels yet, 
Followed, bring His beloved peace. 



56 



The Master 




THE ASCENSION 
By Hojman 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 57 

The Ascension 

Open, ye doors of vasty light! 
Jesus completes His high emprise; 
Conqueror now of Death and Night, 
Wearing our nature, He seeks the skies. 

'^ Follow!" He calls, '' ye children mine. 
See ye not how the road winds steep, 
Over rough stones where thorns entwine. 
Past sharp ascents, through shadows deep ? 

Craven is he who peril heeds. 
Fear not the steeps, the goal shows clear; 
Straight to God's throne the pathway leads. 
Follow! I lead you, my children dear. " 

'* Yea, we are coming,'*' 'tis Christendom's cry 
** To Jesus ascending to God's white throne. 
But creed-strife weary and Pharisees' lie 
Hinder our feet; and time flows on. 

" Coming! O Jesus," Knowledge calls. 
While school-houses rise and books increase; 
But, v/eary of learning, man stumbles and 

falls; 
The wisdom-path fails him. He finds not 

peace. 



The Master 



iming,'' says Progress, with ardor meet, 
As we build great cities and hoard up gold. 
Yet, over our heads Christ's ascending feet 
Pass onward; we miss them. The age grows 
old. 

'' I come!" says Today, and we strain our 

eyes 
To discern the high path through the years 

before; 
And we see, at last, with a glad surprise. 
How plain goes the way to the Heavenly door: 

For man cannot ascend by progress great, 
Nor by strife of creed nor by wisdom's lore. 
''Twas love lifted Jesus to Heaven's gate, 
'Twas service extolled Him to Heaven's door. 

Open, ye doors of vasty light! 
Manhood awakens and seeks the skies. 
Jesus, in Thee we would scale the height, 
Jesus! complete Thy high emprise. 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 59 



The Descent of the Holy Spirit 
Whitsunday 

Seven times seven days had sped 

Since the Paschal lambs in the temple bled, 

And Pentecost was drawing near — 

A feast which all faithful Jews revere. 

" Listen my children," Jesus had said, 
' ' I must leave you now, but, in my stead. 
Shall Another come, a Presence Divine, 
To possess, to comfort, to strengthen mine." 

Shadows of Jewish ritual old 
In mystical whispers, had all foretold. 
Paschal lamb bespoke Jesus slain; 
The **wave-sheaf" had said, "He will rise 
again." 

And now the sun of Pentecost rose. 
And, as Jewish priest to the temple goes. 
The rites of this day tell soft and clear 
Of the promise of Jesus, so soon to appear. 

" Jehovah, we thank Thee," the priest had 

said, 
** For Moses' law; and we bring this bread, 




THE PENTECOST 



A Rosary of Christian Verse 6 1 

Leavened and made of the first-ripe wheat, 
Our Pentecost offering and tribute meet. " 

And, as the priest his service said, 

And offered the * 'wave-loaves'' of hallowed 

bread. 
Lights of the promise danced and glowed 
In this Hebrew service — so strange and old. 

Sinai and Moses and tables of stone 
Whispered, *' God's Spirit, and He alone, 
Can make men good, when in the heart 
The will to be good He doth impart." 

And the offered loaves of leavened bread 
These, in a whisper, plainly said: 
'* The leaven of Jesus shall finish its task 
When the Spirit He sendeth all men shall 
ask." 

So they gather now, the twelve good men. 
Pledged to be Christ's till He comes again; 
Never a thought of doubt or fear, 
** Wait — He will come. — And the time draws 
near." 

Hosanna! When the fire had died 
That God made to glow in the soul of man, 



62 The Afaster 



Choked by the embers of sin and pride, 
God relighted the flame as He only can. 

Hosanna! Lambent tongues of fire 
Dividing, sat upon each dear head. 
So Christ fulfilled man's vast desire, 
**Who wanteth God's Spirit may have,"- 
'twas said. 

Jesus! Now as we kneel and pray, 
Keep us Thine own from day to day. 
Send to us now Thy Holy Ghost, 
Then shall we serve and please Thee most. 



FEB 19.1907 



